In record-breaking temperatures for the showpiece event, the Islander won the women’s 45-49 category in 2 hr 59 min 53 sec and finished 31st overall on the female standings. Banks was six minutes outside of her personal best, but the conditions were far from conducive for fast times.
‘Usually I’m always picking faults in my performance, but as everyone knows it was a really hot day – it wasn’t a day to try and run a PB,’ said the teacher, who has now completed four London Marathons.
‘To finish first in my age group really means a lot to me. It’s such a big race with so many people taking part, so I never expected to do that.
‘Sunday was the most difficult London run I’ve done, but because I’ve now moved up an age group I feel as this it was my best achievement.
‘Whether you wanted to or not you had to slow down because of the heat. Mile 17 was where it got really difficult, when I got to Canary Wharf. It was so hot in there with the heat reflecting off the glass on the buildings and the tarmac, and from there I found it hard work.
‘At no point was I thinking about time – I was thinking about just finishing as opposed to anything else. But I was pleased to still be under three hours.’
Fellow JSAC members Bruno Francisco [2.39.51] and Carl Parker [4.36.56] also completed the 26.2-mile course, as did Banks’ husband Tony [2.44.01]. Sara Collins [4.18.33], Fiona de Miguel [4.47.35], James Hayward [2.50.55], Phil Taylor [2.46.51] and Dom Maher [2.55.21] also made the trip across the Channel.
Did you complete the 2018 London Marathon? Send your result to sport@jerseyeveningpost.com.
